REL 397-01: Believers, Skeptics, and Seekers
Professor John
Schmalzbauer
Office: Strong
Hall 263
Missouri State
University
Email: jschmalzbauer@missouristate.edu
Phone: 836-5918
Course Description
In an age of political and religious
polarization, Americans are reexamining their relationship with the sacred. From
megachurches and mosques to CrossFit and Oprah, they find meaning through many
different paths. Losing their religion, some identify as secular. Others
describe themselves as spiritual-but-not-religious. Though millions still
believe, American religion is changing as we become a multi-faith society. This
course explores the emergence of religious, secular, and spiritual identities,
examining how they compete, conflict, and find common ground. Students will come
away with a deeper understanding of American diversity and contemporary
religious trends.
Course Goals
1.
Expose students to the multiplicity of religious, secular, and spiritual
identities in America
2.
Understand the complex history of religious, secular, and spiritual identities
3.
Explore the sources of conflict among religious, secular, and spiritual
Americans
4.
Examine the possibilities for consensus among religious, secular, and spiritual
Americans
5.
Apply the scholarship on religious, secular, and spiritual identities to
Missouri and the Ozarks
Required Textbook and Electronic
Reserve Readings
1.
Robert P. Jones, The End of White
Christian America (Simon & Schuster, 2017). Get paperback edition.
2.
Eboo Patel, Out of Many Faiths
(Princeton University Press, 2018).
3.
Chris Stedman, Faitheist (Beacon
Press, 2012).
4.
Phil Zuckerman, Society without God
(New York University Press, 2008).
5.
Leigh Schmidt, Restless Souls
(University of California Press, 2012). Be sure to get this edition.
6.
Elizabeth Drescher, Choosing Our
Religion (Oxford University Press, 2016).
Grading and Assignments
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required at all class meetings (except in cases of
illness, family situations, religious holidays, MSU activities, and other
approved events). Participation grades will be penalized for excessive
unexcused absences.
Class Participation (25 points): Students will be evaluated on their participation in class
discussions, familiarity with the readings, and the quality of their comments.
Reflection Paragraphs (75 points): Several times in the semester, students will be asked to write
one or more paragraphs reflecting on the readings. This is an opportunity for
the instructor to see how students are processing the readings. It is also an
opportunity for students to express their opinions. They will be graded on the
extent to which they show familiarity with the readings and for their
thoughtfulness. Look for the letter P next to the readings on days when
paragraphs are due.
Religious/Secular/Spiritual Space
Paper: (300 points): Students will complete a 7-9 page
paper based on a field visits to a religious, secular, or spiritual place in
Missouri or the surrounding states. Papers should provide a detailed description
of the place, as well as relate it to the larger themes of this course. Possible
field sites include congregations, bookstores, fitness centers, coffee shops,
bars, tattoo parlors, art galleries/museums, and science museums. Field sites
may be contemporary or historical (in the case of the latter, some library
research will be necessary). Papers should relate observations to readings on
place in Unit IV. See separate handout. Papers due
Wednesday May 8th in class.
Examinations (600 points total; 300
points each): There will be
two examinations in this course. The final will not be
cumulative. Examinations will be a mixture of short answer and essay questions.
The following grading scale will be
used:
4.0 A: Outstanding Work (93-100)
3.7 A- : Excellent Work (90-92)
3.3 B+: Near Excellent Work (87-89)
3.0 B: Very Good Work (83-86)
2.7 B-: Good Work (80-82)
2.3 C+: Slightly Above Satisfactory
Work (77-79)
2.0 C: Satisfactory Work (73-76)
1.7 C-: Slightly Below Satisfactory
Work (70-72)
1.3 D+: Passing Work (67-69)
1.0 D: Minimum Passing Work (63-66)
0.0 F: Failed—No Credit (0-62); I:
Incompelte
If a student is on the border of a
grade, the instructor will take into consideration the overall performance of
the student, class participation, and amount of improvement.
Academic Dishonesty: Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to
developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal
and academic integrity. Students are responsible for knowing and following the
university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and
Procedures and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student
participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as
described in this policy. See http://www.missouristate.edu/policy/Op3_01_AcademicIntegrityStudents.htm for more information.
Nondiscrimination Statement: Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person
who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your
right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the
Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Park Central Office Building,
117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, 417-836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e.,
concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your
instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your
instructor’s Department Head. Please
visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
Disability Accommodation: If you are a student with a disability and anticipate barriers
related to this course, it is important to request accommodations and establish
an accommodation plan with the University. Please contact the Disability
Resource Center (DRC) (https://www.missouristate.edu/disability/), Meyer Library, Suite 111, 417-836-4192, to initiate the process
to establish your accommodation plan. The DRC will work with you to establish
your accommodation plan, or it may refer you to other appropriate resources
based on the nature of your disability. In order to prepare an accommodation
plan, the University usually requires that students provide documentation
relating to their disability. Please be prepared to provide such documentation
if requested. Once a University accommodation plan is established, you may
notify the class instructor of approved accommodations. If you wish to utilize
your accommodation plan, it is suggested that you do so in a timely manner,
preferably within the first two weeks of class. Early notification to the
instructor allows for full benefit of the accommodations identified in the plan.
Instructors will not receive the accommodation plan until you provide that plan,
and are not required to apply accommodations retroactively.
Cell Phone Policy: As a member of the learning community, each student has a
responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell
phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond,
it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by
students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during
scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent
(vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the
fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the
University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would
occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students
may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that
is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and
put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of
the instructor.
Dropping a Class: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure
for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper
procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also
be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a
class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at
836-5520. See Academic Calendars (www.missouristate.edu/registrar/acad_cal.html)
for deadlines.
Emergency Response Statement: At the first class meeting, students should become familiar with a
basic emergency response plan through a dialogue with the instructor that
includes a review and awareness of exits specific to the classroom and the
location of evacuation centers for the building. All instructors are provided
this information specific to their classroom and/or lab assignments in an e-mail
prior to the beginning of the fall semester from the Office of the Provost and
Safety and Transportation. Students with disabilities impacting mobility should
discuss the approved accommodations for emergency situations and additional
options when applicable with the instructor. For more information go to
http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/51597.htm and
http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm.
Religious Accommodation: The University may provide a reasonable accommodation based on a
person’s sincerely held religious belief. In making this determination, the
University reviews a variety of factors, including whether the accommodation
would create an undue hardship. The accommodation request imposes
responsibilities and obligations on both the individual requesting the
accommodation and the University. Students who expect to miss classes,
examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their sincerely held
religious belief shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to
complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to
provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious observances on
which they will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious Accommodation
Form to the instructor by the end of the third week of a full semester course or
the end of the second week of a half semester course. For more information and a
copy of the form, see www.missouristate.edu/assets/equity/Student_religious_accommodation_request_form-1.doc.
Religion at a State University: Consistent with Supreme Court decisions regarding the teaching of
religion at public institutions (Abington v. Schempp 1963), this course
approaches the study of religion from a non-confessional standpoint. We will
focus on describing and analyzing the place of religion in American culture,
rather than arguing for one religious tradition or another. Students are free
to express or not to express their own beliefs in class. They will be evaluated
strictly on the basis of their work.
Office Hours for Professor
Schmalzbauer: Mondays and Fridays 3-4:30 p.m.; and Thursdays 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m. in
Strong Hall 263 (Religious Studies Department).
Introduction
Monday January 14: Introducing the Course
Wednesday January 16: Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities
Reading: Barry
Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, “Religious, Spiritual and Secular.”
Unit I: Believers
Friday January 18: Changes in American Christianity, Part I
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Obituary and Chapter 1, The End of
White Christian America, 1-44.
Monday January 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday January 23: Changes in American Christianity, Part II
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Chapters 2 and 3, The End of White
Christian America, 45-110. P
Friday January 25: Changes in American Christianity, Part III
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Chapter 4, The End of White
Christian America, 111-146.
Monday January 28: Changes in American Christianity, Part IV
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Chapter 5, The End of White
Christian America, 147-195.
Wednesday January 30: American Christianity, Part V
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Chapter 6, The End of White
Christian America, 197-239.
Friday February 1: American Christianity After 2016
Reading: Robert P.
Jones, Afterword, The End of White
Christian America. P
Reading: Sarah
Jones, “What’s Next for Evangelicalism?”
https://newrepublic.com/article/148779/whats-next-evangelicalism
P
Reading: Russell
Moore, “Fragmentation of the Soul.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2016/12/05/religious-conservatives-republican-party/
P
Monday February 4: Religious Diversity in America, Part I
Reading: Eboo Patel,
Acknowledgments, Introduction, and Chapter 1,
Out of Many Faiths, ix-32.
Wednesday February 6: Religious Diversity, Part II
Reading: Eboo Patel,
Chapters 2 and 3, Out of Many Faiths,
33-65. P
Friday February 8: Religious Diversity, Part III
Reading: Eboo Patel,
Chapters 4, 5, and 6, Out of Many Faiths,
66-106.
Monday February 11: Religious Diversity, Part IV
Reading: Eboo Patel,
Postscript, Out of Many Faiths,
107-109.
Reading: Robert P.
Jones in Out of Many Faiths, 113-132.
Wednesday February 13: Religious Diversity Part V
Reading: John Inazu in Out of Many Faiths, 133-150. P
Friday February 15: Religious Diversity, Part VI
Reading: Laurie
Patton in Out of Many Faiths, 151-179.
Unit II: Skeptics
Wednesday February 20: History of American Skepticism
Reading: Susan
Jacoby, “A New Birth of Reason.”
https://theamericanscholar.org/a-new-birth-of-reason/#.XCp_fzF7nIU
Reading: “Susan
Jacoby on Secularism and Freethinking.”
https://billmoyers.com/segment/susan-jacoby-on-secularism-and-free-thinking/
Friday February 22: An American Atheist, Part I
Reading: Chris
Stedman, Foreword and Chapters 1-2,
Faitheist, xi-34. P
Monday February 25: An American Atheist, Part II
Reading: Chris
Stedman, Chapters 3 and 4, Faitheist,
35-81.
Wednesday February 27: An American Atheist, Part III
Reading: Chris
Stedman, Chapters 5 and 6, Faitheist,
82-135.
Friday March 1: An American Atheist, Part IV
Reading: Chris
Stedman, Chapters 7, 8, and Afterword,
Faitheist, 136-182. P
Monday March 4: The Humanist Chaplaincy Debate
Reading: David Zax,
“True Nonbeliever.”
https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/4330-true-nonbeliever
Reading: Tony
Perkins, “Navy Floats Ideas of Atheist Chaplains.”
https://www.frc.org/updatearticle/20180315/navy-floats-idea-atheist-chaplains
Reading: Chris
Stedman, “Tony Perkins: Atheists Can’t Be Chaplains.”
http://religiondispatches.org/tony-perkins-atheists-cant-be-chaplains/
Wednesday March 6: European Secularism, Part I
Reading: Phil Zuckerman, Introduction and Chapter 1,
Society without God, 1-35.
P
Friday March 8:
European Secularism, Part II
Reading: Phil
Zuckerman, Chapters 2 and 3, Society without God, 36-75
March 9, 2019 - March 17, 2019: Spring Break
Monday March 18: European Secularism, Part III
Reading: Phil
Zuckerman, Chapters 4-6, Society without
God, 95-127. P
Wednesday March 20: European Secularism, Part IV
Reading: Phil Zuckerman, Chapters 7 and 8, Society without God, 128-166.
Friday March 22: Comparing Europe and America
Reading: Phil
Zuckerman, Chapter 9, Society without God,
167-183. P
Reading: Sigal
Samuel, “Atheists are Sometimes More Religious Than Christians.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/05/american-atheists-religious-european-christians/560936/
P
Monday March 25: Examination #1
Unit III: Seekers
Wednesday March 27: American Spirituality, Part I
Reading: Leigh
Schmidt, Preface and Introduction,
Restless Souls, xi-23.
Friday March 29: American Spirituality, Part II
Reading: Leigh Schmidt, Chapter 1,
Restless Souls, 25-62.
Monday April 1: American Spirituality, Part III
Reading: Leigh
Schmidt, Chapter 2, Restless Souls,
63-100. P
Wednesday April 3: American Spirituality, Part IV
Reading: Leigh
Schmidt, Chapter 4, Restless Souls,
143-179.
Friday April 5: American Spirituality, Part V
Reading: Leigh
Schmidt, Chapter 6, Restless Souls,
227-268. P
Monday April 8: Howard Thurman, Part I
Film:
Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story
Wednesday April 10: Howard Thurman, Part II
Reading: Paul
Harvey, “Howard Thurman and the Arc of History in San Francisco.”
https://boomcalifornia.com/2018/08/22/howard-thurman-and-the-arc-of-history-in-san-francisco/
Friday April 12: Spirituality of the Nones, Part I
Reading: Elizabeth
Drescher, Introduction and Chapter 1,
Choosing Our Religion, 1-52. P
Monday April 15: Spirituality of the Nones, Part II
Reading: Elizabeth
Drescher, Chapter 2, Choosing Our Religion,
53-88.
Wednesday April 17: Spirituality of the Nones, Part III
Reading: Elizabeth
Drescher, Chapter 3, Choosing Our Religion,
89-115.
April 18, 2019 - April 21, 2019: Spring Holiday
Monday April 22: Spirituality of the Nones, Part IV
Reading: Elizabeth
Drescher, Chapter 4, Choosing Our Religion,
116-156.
Wednesday April 24: Spirituality of the Nones, Part V
Reading: Elizabeth Drescher, Chapter 5 and Conclusion, Choosing Our Religion, 157-181; 246-252
Unit IV: Religious, Secular, and
Spiritual Places
Friday April 26: Case Study—The Town of Liberal, Missouri
Reading: Thomas
Gounley, “Looking Back on Liberal, the Midwest's Failed Atheist Utopia.”
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/exv9va/looking-back-on-liberal-the-midwests-failed-atheist-utopia
Reading: O.E.
Harmon, “The Story of Liberal, Missouri—Why the Town of Liberal was Founded.”
Reading: Dr. J.B.
Bouton, “Two Years Among the Spirits in Liberal, Missouri.”
http://evermore.imagedjinn.com/blg/6682/two-years-among-the-spirits-by-dr-j-b-bouton-pages-11-15/
Monday April 29: Case Study—The Missouri Platonist and Osceola’s Johnson Library
Reading: Steve Pokin,
“Living with his 35,000 Books.”
http://lisaandherworld-lisah.blogspot.com/2013/07/living-with-his-35000-books-osceola.html
Reading: Ronnie
Pontiac, “Thomas Johnson: Platonism Meets Magic Sex on the Prairie.”
Wednesday May 1: Case Study—Christian Coffeehouses in Springfield
Reading: Adam Park,
“Cream, Sugar, and Christianity,” 12-25.
https://www.missouristate.edu/assets/honorslogos/logos_vol1_full.pdf
Friday May 3: Case Study—CrossFit, Dinner Parties, Pop-Up Shabbat, and Other
Gathering Places
Reading: Angie
Thurston and Casper ter Kuile, How We
Gather.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a32a872ace8649fe18ae512/t/5a6f3b9bec212de83ac81b77/1517239214228/How_We_Gather_Digital_4.11.17.pdf
Reading: Angie
Thurston and Casper ter Kuile, Something
More.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a32a872ace8649fe18ae512/t/5a6f3c05652dea28ba274e5f/1517239308968/Something+More_F_Digital_Update.pdf
Monday May 6: Case Study—The American Megachurch
Reading: Scott
Thumma and Warren Bird, Recent Shifts in
America’s Largest Protestant Churches: Megachurches 2015 Report.
http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/2015_Megachurches_Report.pdf
Reading: Ryan
Sanders, “The Megachurch Model is Unsustainable.”
Wednesday May 8: Reports from the Field
Students will share
from their observations of local religious, secular, and spiritual places